PRESS RELEASE

Press Release: Casino Dealer Video School PDF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sarasota, FL – June 25, 2007

Deal yourself a new career or just impress your friends…

First-ever training video on how to deal TEXAS HOLD ‘EM POKER just released.

With factors like the Internet and outsourcing resulting in record layoffs, figuring out which industry is a safe bet for future employment is one of the biggest gambles people are being forced to take.  Ironically, a career in the U.S. gaming industry is turning out to be one of the least risky moves that job hunters can now make. 

According to a report issued by the American Gaming Association (AGA) on May 8, 2007, revenues for the commercial casino industry climbed 6.8% in 2006 to reach a new record of $32.46 billion – with 460 commercial casinos in 11 states providing employment for more than 366,000 people.   At the same time, the racetrack casino segment of the industry continued a multi-year trend of growth and expansion, with 36 venues in 11 states generating $3.62 billion in gross revenues (up 16%) and over 22,000 jobs (a 30% increase) over the year before.   

Revenues from poker in particular increased to 15% in 2006, with players spending more than $238 million on casino poker in Nevada and New Jersey alone, and $1.1 billion in card rooms in the four states that report their figures.  Indeed, putting your chips on a career in dealing poker is looking more and more like a winning hand.  Almost every state in the country has some form of legalized poker – from commercial (12 states), Indian (28) and racetrack casinos (11) to charitable gaming (48).  In addition, there are casinos on river boats and over a dozen major cruise lines, local card rooms and tournaments.  “The demand for dealers is overwhelming,” says Shane Sexton, Tournament Director for the Tampa Racetrack.  “I constantly need new dealers.”

  While earnings vary, depending on the venue, poker dealing is one of the few professions that offers compensation up to $100,000 a year and health benefits (in commercial casinos), yet doesn’t require a college degree or special schooling.  Until now, getting the training necessary has been mostly limited to what are commonly called dealer schools (unless you’re lucky enough to know a professional willing to share their knowledge).  Poker dealing courses typically run between $800 to $1200 for approximately four weeks of class instruction.  Most are located in the vicinity of gaming hotspots, requiring additional travel and lodging expenses for those attending from outside the area.  Even then, graduation from a school does not guarantee a job.  Most casinos and other employers require only an audition, allowing them to evaluate an applicants’ technical skills, knowledge of the game, manual dexterity and personality.

As an alternative, The Casino Dealer Video School, based in Florida, has just released a first-ever one-hour training video, called “LEARN TO DEAL! Texas Hold ‘em Poker,” for only $59.95.  

“LEARN TO DEAL! Texas Hold ‘em Poker” provides explicit instruction on all of the essentials required to deal professionally.  The program, designed by professionals, begins by covering the basic mechanical skills: cutting checks; verifying the well; setting up and spreading the deck; and how to scramble, shuffle and cut cards, as well as pitching the down cards.  The second section teaches you in detail the technical procedures of conducting a game.  There’s also advice on dealer etiquette, demonstrations on the range of circumstances when a dealer needs to call the floor, a review of tournament practices, and practice exercises to master pitching cards.

“This video is very good for people just starting in the business,” says Adel Foroozin, Dealer Trainer for The Bicycle Casino, one of the world’s largest card casinos, in Los Angeles.  “It teaches you how to cut checks, shuffle, pitch cards and the structure of the game itself.  I’m impressed!”

“LEARN TO DEAL! Texas Hold ‘em Poker” was scripted by experts with over 60 years of combined card room experience, led by Emory N. Thomas – the former poker room manager on the Casino Royale and Ocean Jewel Casino cruise ships who now operates Sun Coast Dealer School in Southwest Florida.  The program is hosted by Monica Kennedy – a tournament player who recently won a $10,000 seat into the World Poker Tour’s Los Angeles Poker Classic earlier this year – who also served as executive producer.  The video was directed by veteran poker player Barry Bienstock and produced by his company, Dahill Studios, which has designed training films for more than 30 years.   

The idea was suggested to Kennedy by Andrew Howey, a poker playing friend who had taught his two sons how to deal.  “People were always asking him how their kids could get started, because they saw how much money his sons were making,” says Kennedy.

A former comptroller who spent five years as a financial consultant for A.G. Edwards, Kennedy leaped at the opportunity, having already produced two films.  “After many hours in casinos, and many books bought and devoured on how to play better, I had come to the realization that after the house cut, or rake, the dealers and waitresses were making more money than the players,” she laughs.  “I looked at dealers in a new way and saw all the fun they had and thought that a better way to be involved in the game for me was to get on the winning side of the table.  I went to dealer school and started dealing tournaments and charity events.  It’s been a blast, and I come home a winner every single time.”

Over a year in the making, “LEARN TO DEAL! Texas Hold ‘em Poker” was based on extensive research into dealer school curriculums and interviews with veteran dealers and the supervisors responsible for staffing venues around the country.  “We found some exceptional people with an incredible knowledge of the game, it’s rules and what makes a good dealer,” Kennedy says.  “Their feedback was incorporated throughout the filmmaking process.”

“The very best advice I can offer to people interested in becoming a dealer for the Final Table Tour is to invest in the ‘Learn to Deal Texas Hold’em Poker’ DVD.   It’s by far the best learning tool I’ve seen to date.  You’ll learn everything you need right from the DVD without having to commit to time-consuming and costly classes.  Follow their step-by-step procedures and you will become a professional, knowledgeable and courteous dealer.  You will make up the cost of the DVD most likely your first event!  You bring the work ethic and the personality, and the DVD will guide you to a fun, fulfilling and prosperous career,” says Robert D. Danoff, co-owner of Final Table Tour

“LEARN TO DEAL! Texas Hold ‘em Poker” is available now on DVD from www.casinovid.com and FilmBaby.com, as well as other online retailers.   “The Poker Dealer’s Practice Kit” can also be purchased from www.casinovid.com for $39.95.

The company will also soon release a second video – called “Learn to DEAL! Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card.”  The course includes an online Dealer Skills Quiz and webcam audition, along with a Certificate of Completion from Emory N. Thomas’ Suncoast Dealer School, for those who pass.  “Learn to DEAL! Blackjack” is also in production.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Foggia Public Relations

(503) 622-0232

lyla@foggiapr.com

Monica Kennedy, Director of Marketing

Casino Dealer Video School

mk@casinovid.com

(888) 567-2387 (toll-free) cell

(941) 378-8342 land